Repeater printer for strip stock



Nov. 24, 1953 T. FlNlzlE ET AL.

REPEATER PRINTER FOR STRIP STOCK Filed April 22, 1950 2 Sheets--Sheeil l 4, 4g Y INVENToRs.

34 TUMUN'JNIZIE 15x 64 BY .JDHN EUNNULLY 6 Ag TORNEY NOV. 24, 1953 T. FlNlzlE ET AL REPEAT-ER PRINTER FOR STRIP STOCK Filed April 2, 195o' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 JNVENTORS. TUMUM'INJZIE LS( BY JUHN EDNNQLLY Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES- 2,660,114 REPEATER PRINTER FOR STRIP STOCK Tomun Finizie, Bridgeport, Conn., and John J. Connolly, Pelham Manor, N. Y.; said Finizie assigner to Bayus Electric,

Incorporated,

Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 22, 1950, Serial No. 157,572

This invention relates to new and useful mprovements in paper printers and has particular relation to a printing attaohmentfor mounting on paper roll holders for the printing on the paper as the same is taken from the holder.

An object of the invention is to provide in combination with a paper roll holder a means easily mounted on the holder, requiring no adjustment, and reliably operable for the repeated printing oi a message on the paper as the same is taken from the roll.

Another object is to provide a means of the character indicated and which is adapted for the printing on plain wrapping paper or on gummed tape Iand which is also adaptable to the printing on papers of Various widths.

Another object is to provide a paper roll printing means of simple and inexpensive construction, attractive appearance, reliable in operation, and which yis operable over long periods of time without requiring attention.

Other objects and `advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View showing a paper roll holder with the printing means of the invention mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken as looking from the left in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line .iL-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale, the View being taken along the line li-d of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the printing attachment associated with a gummed tape holder or dispensing device;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view taken as along the line "a-l' of Fig. 6;

and t Fig. 8 is Ia view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the printing attachment adapted for printing on gummed tape or other paper of greater width than that of Fig. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings and at first more particularly to the form of the invention shown'in Figs. 1 4, at iii is generally indicated a paper roll holder in the form of a stand. This Astand includes a base Il, uprights l2 and i3, and

1 Claim. (Cl. 10i-213) an upper or top cross member or piece It of rectangular cross section, bolted or otherwise secured to the uprights I2 and I3 and supported by and extending between them. Thus, as is clear from the drawings, this top cross piece Iii is supported in spaced parallel relation to the base On a shaft I5, through the usual tapered end plugs i6 and Il, is supported a roll of wrapping paper i8. The shaft I5 is supported in suitable bearing members I9 mounted on the inner sides of the uprights i2 and I3. Pivotally mounted on the uprights, above the bearings i9, are a pair of arm members 2d at their outer ends supporting a knife or paper cutting blade 2i. Generally speaking, the structure above described is common in the art.

A printing means, generally designated 22, includes a housing in the form of a metal shell 23 and a mounting bracket generally designated 2d. Bracket 2li is made up of a single piece of metal and includes a flat plate-like ybody portion 25 lying against the upper side of the cross piece Ill. At its outer end, body 25 is integral with a depending portion 26 through which is threaded a set or clamping screw 21.

In its forward portion, bracket 2d has a central relatively wide tongue-like portion 28 lanced and pressed therefrom and extending downwardly as in the case of the portion 26, its'upper part being vertically disposed and bearing against the forward face of the cross piece I4 and its lower part being bent along the lower edge of the cross piece into rearwardly extending angular relation. The upper vertical part of the portion 2S bears against the forward side of the cross piece ifi as the screw '2 is tightened to clamp the bracket onto said cross piece and the lower angularly bent part locks the bracket against upward clisplacement. Integral portions or arms 2s of the bracket extend forwardly therefrom and at their forward ends carry spaced parallel depending ears 30.

Casing or housing 23 is drawn or otherwise formed of sheet metal, although it will be understood that in some instances it might comprise a formed plastic body. This casing, as herein disclosed, includes a iront wall SI, depending side walls 32 and 33, and its side front wall 3i curves downwardly forming a lower end wall 3s and at its upper end it includes an upper end wall 35. Thus, the casing is hollow and open through its inner or under side.

Approximately at the juncture of its front wall 3i and upper end wall 35, the casing has a formed, or outwardly pressed, or bumped portion St. This bump 3E is of a width to extend between the depending ears 3u of the bracket arms 2% and is,

3 in fact, received between such ears. Then a pivoting bar or rod 31 extends through the ears and the end walls of the bump 36 whereby the casing or housing 23 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 24,

Located entirely within the casing or housing 23 and pivotally mounted therein, as will be described, is an ink roller generally designated 38. Mounted in the lower end portion ofl the housing, in parallel relation with the ink roller 38, but of a diameter extending outwardly through the open underside of the housing, aprinting rollery generally designated 39.

The opposite ends of the respective rollers are identical with one another and the mountings of such ends on the walls of the casing orhousing 23 are identical. Therefore, a detailed disclosure of the structure of one end portion of each roller will, it is believed,y suiiice f or both ends o,f the rollers and therefore attention is now particularly directed to'Fig, 4 of the drawing.

There it will be seen that the inking roller 38 comprises a cylinder 40 the ends of which are tightly closed by plugs 4I fast with the cylinder. Inwardly of one such plug a lling opening is provided in the cylinder wall and thisV opening is normally closed by a screw 42 or other means. Along its length, cylinder 40 is provided with a number of very narrow or thin slits 43 through which ink may escape from the interior of thev cylinder.

The slits are not in the extreme end portions of the cylinder and the portions thereof which do have the slits have a, pad or blanket 44 wrapped thereabout. This pad absorbs ink movingv out throughthe slits 43 and distributes this ink over a printing pad as will later be setforth in detail.

Printing roller 39 comprises a cylinder 45A having over each of its ends a shell or cap 46 fast with the cylinder. At its inner end, each cap is slightly outturned and is toothed, or serrated or otherwise roughened, as at 41, for frictional or driving purposes, as will appear. Mounted on the cylinder is a printing pad 48, This` printing pad may be inthe form of a rubber pad carrying letters,.symbols or the like which are to be printed, or itmay be otherwise constructed.

Additionally, as will later more fully appear, this printing pad generally, does notA extend en tirely' about the cylinder 45` but is of. a thickness whereby to extend radially outwardly of the cylinder 45 to approximatelyw the-height of the teeth 4l AS Siler/11.1111v Fie- 3. thisA printing red does not gio entirely about theI cylinder but hasA its ends as at 49 and 5 0`and is of a thicknessto extend slightly beyond the teeth4z1.

Forthlemountine oftheinkirs roller ett-.aligned places the walls or sides 32 and 33 of thecasing are pierced and portionsiof the metal drawn inwardly providing thickened portions I which are in the nature of bushings and internally threaded. Bearing screws 52; are thifeadeitl into eachof said bushings and arelockedin` placeby nuts 53 threaded on the screws and-tightagainst the inner ends of the bushings. In, this way, the bearing SCITGWS are mounted antalll mOi/.ef merit The irmerendV portions at oiqthebearins screws arenshed andare located socketszin theV end plugsV 4I of theprinting roller whereby thelatter isfrotatable on the, screws.

Similarly, at a pair of lower-but. aligned points the walls 32. and 33. of the housing or casing 23 are pierced and themetal drawn` inwardly providing bushings 55 also internally screwv threaded. Through these bushings are threadedbearing screws 56 securedinplace against `casual movement by lock nuts 51 and the inner end portions 58 of these screws are also finished orf and are received in bearing openings in the end caps 46 of the printing roller whereby.- the, latter is mounted for free turning movement-on its own, axis.

A tension spring 59 has its inner end anchored to the lower end portion of the rigid tongue 28 of bracket 24. The outer end of this spring is fast with a nut 604 through which is screwed a threaded shank 6JY f ast with a nger piece 62 locatedattheouter side of the casing or housing 23. Preferably, thel housing is provided with a rounded depression 63 in which the rounded inner end portion of the nger piece 62 bears and through this depression is slotted for the passage of the Shank 6l- From the above it wiltbe seen that the printing and inkins rollers aremounted by the side walls of the housing or casing 23. Their locationsr are such,y with respectto their diameters, that as the printing roller rotates4 the outer surface of the printing pady 48 presses against` the felt pad or blanketll o the inking roller taking ink` therefrom andy causing rotation of the inking roller. is will appear, rotation of the printing roller is brought aboutv by its engagement with the paper of the roll, being printed upon as. it is used.

While the axes of the two rollers are locatedk the same distance inwardly of the edge of the casing, it is noted that the printing roller is of considerably greater diameter than the inking roller and thus while. the surface ofA the printing roller projects through the open side of the casing the inking roller is wholly within. the latter.4 For the purpose of strengtheningV the casing and giving it a finished appearance,` it, is,y about its. open side, provided with anl` outwardly directed flange 64.

Withl the casing mounted on the paper roll holder orstand, by the bracket 24, the casing depends from such bracket in such relation that the, outer surface of its printing roller or of its printing padI 48Y and in the absence, of the latter, itsV teeth 4 `I., aredisposed` against .the roll of paper I8.l The pressure withlwhich the printing roller bears, against theroll of.. paper I8- is determined by turningv of the nger piece 52. to thread the nut 50 inwardly or outwardly along the threaded shank 6I and thus lto add to or to lessen the tensiorrof the spring 5,9, Clearly, as the spring is; tensioned, there is a greater inward pull on the housing or casing; 3f below. thepiyot 3l and inadirectiontomove the casing or housing clockwise thereby more tightlyf drawing the printing roller against: the.; roll; offpaper- I8..

The bracket beingdrr place and the spring 59 being` at, the; properA tension, aslpaper is drawn from, the;1r.oller;y I, whatever' message.; varrears on the printing pad 48 will be printed onthe. paper in.. ink.` Thus., referring; to Fig, 2,. the saper is shown. as, being takengfrorn the upper side ofthe roll I8 and underthe knife 2.1,', the end` of the paper from thel roll being-theredesignatedr.

Asitheend portion.; Ofjthe.- paper-is nulledoutwardly under the knife 21|, the entire` roll: I8 rotates on the shaft I5 or with the shaft I5 and thus. the paper must; passl under; the printing roller 3.9. Each revolution ofV thisi roller prints the. desiredr message on` the paper. Sufcient paper having been pulled from. the rollv I8, itis tornV off inthe usual manner against the floating knife2I.

The printing4 device having-been-rv mountedv on the paper roll holder-l or stand; no adjustments save only the. proper tensioning of the springl 59 ik@ i are required. The printing on the paper' is adi eom-plished automaitieal-lfy;4 It is merely necessary* that the store owner' or clerk draw paper from the roll in the usual manner and the printing is automatically accomplished.

Owing to the provisionof the inlt'i-ig'v roller 3'8, a supply of ink is available te last for agreat many impressions and therefore it i'snotV neces: sary that the store owner-loe frequently replgg ishing the ink supply or othewistamp'eing' with the present inking mechanism'. He has nothing to do but use the paper in the customary Ina-nner and each section of the paper will the printed message. l

When the space between tlief ends t5' and 50' of .the printing pad d i's oppos e the' roll of paper i8 the teeth of riri ke formations 4i? are against the roll of paper and therefore when the latter is rotated, asA paper is drawn freni it,- the printing roll-er will beV turned on its airis'. tailoringV the printing pad back around for .the next imprese sion.

1n Figs. 5', 6 and rI is illustra-ted the printing on gummed tape. In such gures, al portion of a roll of gummed tape is generally designated 66 and above the same is a portion, shown as a bar' or piece of asuitable holder or stand. In gumm-ed tape machines the tape isr merely placed in a holder and it is not mounted on a shaft or bearing element in the manner iriwhich rollsl of wrapping paper are mounted,V as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2`. Thus, the roll of tape inv these machines does not have a fixed location and it any pressure, suchasl would be entailed a printing operation, is placed against a rol-l, the latter merely moves away from .the pressure applying means and a goed impression is not obtainable. y

On theI supporting bar El is clamped ahousing or' casing generally designated 68, thel same being arranged substantially horizontally andv being rigidly and not pivotally mounted Onth'e bar B1.

As herein disclosed, casing 68 includes a top wall 69", side Wallsfl' andv 1|, arear endwall T2, anda front" end wall t3; Thus,v the cas'in'g is open through its inner or lower side andthel side and endl Wal-1sL of the easing,` at such' open side; are

provided with outwardly directed flanges 14 whereby to give the casinga finished` appearance and also tol stiffen or strengtheni it. Ildroughy its side walls, the casing is notched: or' cutaway as at l5; andsuch notches receive .the supporting memberv or' piece 61 and the: casing1 is clampedto such member' or' bar by means: of a rigid tongue 16, on the'tightly threading. home of aj nut member 'I1 on a threaded stud 18 supported from the undersideofi the top' wall of the casing.

Mounted the casing 68 is an inking roller 19 of the. construction of the inking. roller 38 above described and mounted in the same'f manner and by the same means asis the ink-ing roller 38. Additionally, there is mounted in this casingua printing'- roller S0 of the` construction of the printing roller 39 rst described and mounted in the same manner as the printing roller 39. Thus; the' mountingV studs, for: the ink'ingr and printing rollers i9 and 80 are given the same reference charactersy as. appliedi to the` correspending parts. for the mounting. of the` inking and printing rollers 38 and 39 or Figs. 14.`

In addition. to the mentioned parts, th'e housing 68 mounts arodl extendingentirely aoross the'- housing and. through; both of its side'- walls 'l-iii and llt'. Thisrod. 8.1 i's rotatable or'turnable relative to'.z the. housing. andi to the outer end of sihl Barisetlserw's 82 and 83 rigidly' seeure the upper or inner endsof lys-shaped arms 84, and 8"; respe'c'ti-vel'y.l Thus,- the'searms' Se and `i5 are loealted one at the outer 4side of each of the Side' walls 'F0 'and ITIL of the' easing or housing 68. Ae platen or pressure roller, generally designated SE; is mounted by these" arrrfis 8d and 85' `for move"-L I'fent therewith but for rotation' about its owrr aiisl relative thereto.A To the' desired end, this' platen roller includes a reducedA diameter end portion 87" journale'd ill the arm 35 and tHel the' other e'-i portionof the platen rollerl is jouraled on the' shank! of as'crew 88 passing through the arm S4:

stiff! rigid bfaif 89 connects the outer' end portioilsnf the' ars 84 and. 85 and is rigidly' attaehed to' tlfiexr in any desired manner as? by' sorews`- or the' like 90;- Thisl bar 39, at its" undef# side; mounts' a'bladeor knifev E! having a toothedouter or free edge 92 on which paper, as gumr'n'e'd tape; may be cut. l

The platen roller 8%, intermediate its; ends and; in fact; nts mid portion iin alignment With the printing pad on the printing roller,` is ot enlarged diameter and' preferably is made' so by having a blanketof rubberor theA like 93 thereon. Then' thisY platen or pressure rel-ler, beyond the ends of suoli enlargeddiameter portion, is provided Witlf toothed portions? 9:43 of a diameter and so spaced as to mesh with the-spaced tooth portions it? of the printing' roller 80":

0n thev forward portioir of the housing? or das"` ing 68 is an enlargement orl projectionl 95v throughvr which extends a threaded sharili* 9'5- rigidait-its lower end with the bar 89 connecting thefor- "vi/'ardy end4 portions of the bracket arms lijand 851 A coil spring 97 is* disposedl about said shank $35 between the bar 89' and the underside of the projection 95; A nutl Siil` isl threaded on the shank et at the upper side of said projection g5. With this construction, it will be clear' that on adjusting the nut 9S inwardly on the shank 9S, the

bar Seis drawn upwardly towards the projection et" andA the platen or press-ure roller 8o is drawn upwardly toward the' printing roller 8o.

On" turning of the` nut in the opposite* direction the` spring Si? willt function to press the bar S9 in the opposite direction whereby the arms e4 and tend' to move4 in a clockwise' direction to carry the' pressure orwpl'at'en roller away from the printing roller" 6E); v

When using this machine; the e'nd portion 99 of the gummed tape is threaded overth'e upper' side of the', centrally thickened. portion of the platen o1" pressure roller 85 ad'between scl portion andy the printir'igy pad portion of the printing roller. Then nietape iscarrieo forwardly under the bar 89 and the knife Si. Now the nut (i8 is tightened to properly position theplatenor pressureA roller 36 to support the tape with its upper sideagainst the printing roller 8o. At this time it will be understood; that theI inking roller E9 is in a position to supply ink to the printing pad on the printing roller and that the platen or pressure roller adequately supports the tape against the printing roller.-

Now, asL the tape machine isoperated to feed tape from the roll 56,- or asv the tape is drawn from the roll in any manner, it is drawn eetween the pressure or platen roller S6 and thevprinting roller do'. When the printing padof the printing roller is againstthe platen or pressureroller, or when these rollers are sorelatedthat the tape is gripped betweeny themV as the tapeis advanced 7 both rollers are rotated and the message on the printing roll is printed on the tape.

As the printing pad does not extend entirely about the printing roller, there is a gap during each revolution when there is no printing pad to roll against the enlarged diameter portion of the platen or pressure roller. Unless provisions are made to the contrary, at this time, the tape would just slip between the rollers and they would not turn and the printing pad would not again be brought back into position to print.

The toothed or friction creating means 94 of the platen or pressure roller at this time is in engagement or mesh with the toothed portions 67 of the printing roller and thus as the tape is drawn across the pressure or platen roller and it is rotated, the printing roller is caused to rotate so as to bring its printing pad around and back into position for printing on the next length of tape.

Referring now to Fig. 8, at 100 is generally indicated a portion of a roll of tape of greater width than the roll 86 of Figs. 5-7. Fig. 8 shows the printing device 68 modified for use in connection with tape of considerable width and, in fact, illustrates the modifications necessary in said device 98 in order to adapt it for use in printing on gummed tape or on ungummed paper, such as that of roll I3 of Figs. 1-4. Thus, in Fig. 8, the printing device generally designated IBI is shown as mounted on a cross piece or bar 162 and including a casing or housing 103 of the structure of the casing or housing 68 previously described in detail.

Casing or housing E03 is clamped to the cross piece 102 by means of a clamping lug itt and a nut 105 corresponding with the lug and nut '17 of Fig. 7. ln adapting the printing device for a relatively wide roll of tape or various widths of wrapping paper, the rod Si, the platen or pressure roller 36, the bar 89 and the knife 8i of Figs. 5-7 are all omitted and in their place is substituted a rod (06, a compression roller or platen |67, a mounting bar |08, and a saw-toothed knife E00. To accomplish the desired adjustment, the bracket arms 84 and 85 are detached from the rod 8l on loosening of the screws 32 and 83 and rod 8i is dispensed with. Also, by removing the screw 8, the compression roller or platen 86 is freed and set aside and on removal of the screws 90 the bar 89 and its knife 9i are separated from the assembly and are dispensed with.

Now the different and longer bar H13 is connected to the ends of the bracket arms 84 and 85 by the screws 90 and this longer bar 108 supports a longer knife |08. Then the pressure roller or platen roller 07 is mounted by inserting its reduced end portion H0 through an opening in the arm 85 and by mounting its other end on the screw 38 on the arm 34. Next, the arms are assembled on the end portions of the longer rod S, the latter having been inserted through the side walls of the housing |03.

In making the substitutions as above set forth, the substituted parts must be of such length as to extend beyond the edges of the tape or other paper to be printed upon. In Fig. 8, it is intended that the inking and printing rollers be the same as those of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and such parts will remain mounted in the casing.

However, the substituted parts are of greater length and of a length to dispose the bracket arms 8e and 85 beyond the edges of the wider paper or tape. This paper will be carried between the platen or pressure roller |07 and the printing roller and in its portions which are to be printed on will be strengthened and kept smooth in passing over the pressure roller or platen and particularly over the centrally thickened portion 93 thereof and between the toothed portions 91' thereof. These toothed portions in the modification of Fig. 8 function in the manner described in connection with the modification of Figs. 5-7.

With the described construction of Fig. 8 it will be seen that if the paper on the roll i has an indentation, the same will be straightened as it passes over the platen or pressure roller so that the portion of the paper upon which the printing is to be done is not wrinkled or depressed but on the contrary is held smooth and even so that uniform printing is obtained as the paper is taken from the roller and carried between the platen or pressure roller and the printing roller. Of course, in the structure of Fig. 8, the paper taken from the roll is severed by turning or drawing it across the saw-toothed edge of the knife |00.

Having thus set forth the nature of our inn vention, what we claim is:

In combination with a rigid upper cross inember of a roll paper holder or stand having means thereon for supporting a roll of paper, a bracket detachably secured to said cross piece and projecting to the forward side thereof, a housing, horizontal pivot means pivoting said housing at its upper end on the forward portion of said bracket for swinging movement to carry the lower end portion of said housing toward and from a roll of paper supported by said stand, said housing open through its inner side and having a concavely rounded slotted depression in its outer side at a point below said pivot means, a printing roll mounted within said housing and of a diameter to project through the inner open side thereof for engagement with a roll of paper on said stand, said bracket including-a depending tongue against the forward side of said cross piece and extending to a point below said pivot means, a tension spring anchored at one end to said tongue and extending forwardly beneath said pivot means, a nut secured to said tension spring, a shank threaded through said nut, and a finger piece on said shank engaged through said slotted depression and having a convexly rounded inner end seated within said depression in the outer side of said housing and turnable to adjust said nut along said shank and thereby adjust the tension of said spring to regulate the pressure with which said printing roller bears against the roll of paper on said stand.

TOli/LUN FINIZIE. JOHN J. CONNOLLY.

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